Activists want to block Boone County puppy mills

BELVIDERE — They’re a group of animal rights advocates determined to persuade their elected officials to follow the ways of Chicago.

Next Wednesday, as many as 30 local animal rights advocates plan to approach the Boone County Board and plead for the passage of legislation that would stop “puppy mill” owners, nurture kinder treatment of animals and force stricter regulations on those breeding and boarding dogs and other animals.

Kathy Mehalko plans to attend the session at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the county building, 1212 Logan Ave., joined by perhaps dozens of other advocates. They want Boone County to draft an ordinance similar to legislation recently passed in Illinois’ largest city.

Starting next March, Chicago pet stores will not be allowed to sell dogs, cats or rabbits acquired from large-scale breeding operations known by their critics as “puppy mills.” The city followed the lead of Los Angeles, Phoenix and more than 40 other cities.

“Puppies are dying by the thousands on a daily basis. People don’t realize what’s going on,” said Mehalko, director of Angels 4 Animals, a volunteer group spreading awareness about cruel, large-scale breeding facilities that cage dogs without providing them with proper nutrition, socialization and regular exercise. They breed, Mehalko said, until they are euthanized by their owners.

Some County Board members said they’re open to the advocates’ arguments. However, they’re not sure that the board has the authority to deal with the issue.

The advocates say that there are approximately five puppy mills in the region — a possibility that County Board member Marion Thornberry said makes his stomach turn. Still, Boone County isn’t Cook County.

“What they can do and what we can do may be a whole different set of circumstances,” he said, adding that the potential regulations probably need to originate in the planning department.

Under current regulations, Boone County residents can own as many as 10 dogs. They must obtain a special-use permit for boarding and breeding kennels, according to Gina DelRose, associate planner with the Belvidere-Boone County Planning Department.

She also doubts that Boone and Cook counties are on the “same playing field.”

The animal rights advocates stood outside Boone County Courthouse this past week to raise awareness about puppy mills and to target Kimber Lettier of Caledonia, co-owner of the Puppy Patch, a kennel on agricultural land along Illinois 173.

They held banners saying “Stop Puppy Mills,” “Ban Puppy Mills” and “Save the Dogs.” Lettier was being arraigned on two counts of aggravated battery for her alleged conduct toward county Animal Control programs coordinator Jacqueline Mitzelfelt. Both women declined to comment for this story.

Yet others are paying attention to the animal rights advocates’ cause, which includes the Stop Kimber Lettier and Her Puppy Mill Facebook page.

When Chicago passed its puppy mill legislation, “all of us did the happy dance,” said Brandy Semonich, 31, of Poplar Grove. “Because puppy mills don’t only hurt the dogs, they also hurt reputable breeders. It gives every breeder a bad name.”

Angie Johnson owns the All Paws Beauty Salon in Rockford. She despises the idea of dogs stacked in cages without being loved or groomed.

She’s in favor of tactics that would minimize such pet care, which she believes exists in every county.

“A lot of them are just very discreet,” she said. “They just pull the wool over everyone’s eyes.”

Boone County resident Anne Williams, 57, has been breeding large dogs for decades. Lately, her housemates have included nearly 20 English bulldogs. These days, it’s more of a hobby that has resulted in few litters.

There’s only one cage in her farmhouse and, should visitors drop by, there is a strong possibility they may catch a dog sitting in a chair. Of course, Williams cooks for the dogs, and several in the group sleep with Williams.

She wants to stop puppy mills because she believes they need to be curbed.

“If it’s easy for them to do it, of course, they’re going to,” she said.